Spook-tacular fun!
ZOE CHAMBERLAIN looks at some family thrills and chills this Halloween
THERE are lots of new events happening in and around Birmingham for Halloween.
Look out for circuses, magic shows and craft workshops at theme parks, garden centres and farms across the Midlands.
On Broad Street in Birmingham, you’ll find a family rave complete with confetti cannons and bubbles. Halloween-themed events are taking place at Cadbury World, Drayton Manor, West Midland Safari Park, Mary Arden’s Farm near Stratford and Warwick Castle.
SOLIHULL SAFARI
Touchwood is bringing a taste of the Savannah to Solihull this autumn, with a safari-style animal trail around the centre. Look out for a topiary hippo, lion, giraffe, gorilla, baby elephant and zebra as they join the centre’s famous resident topiary cows Daisy and Dotty.
Up until October 20, families can follow the trail in search of the six new visitors.
Simply pick up a trail sheet from the ranger at the Touchwood Information Desk - and look out for some hidden surprises along the way as they seek out clues to solve an anagram, with a prize for those who complete the trail.
There will also be free wellbeing sessions, talks from natural beauty experts, a sustainable fashion show and lots of Halloween fun.
BIG FISH LITTLE FISH FAMILY RAVE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
There’s a Halloween family rave happening in Birmingham! Big Fish Little Fish is bringing Brummie DJ Joe Hunt to Rosie’s Nightclub from 2pm-4.30pm on Sunday, October 30. Spooky fancy dress is optional but very much encouraged!
Expect two floors of tunes plus confetti cannons, bubbles, and balloons, all topped off with a parachute dance.
Kids can make spooky monster rave crowns at the free craft activity tables plus take part in a giant colouring-in mural and the homemade playdoh table.
For younger ravers, there’s a Baby Chill area with soft mats, a ball pool and inflatables plus a dedicated toddler area with tents and tunnels to explore.
FREDDO’S CIRCUS SPOOKTACULAR
There’s a spooky circus coming to Cadbury World for Halloween. Meet ‘Fangtastic Freddo’ and watch some spooky spells and daredevil tricks. It takes place at the Bournville attraction until October 30.
You can also visit the 4D cinema and the world’s biggest Cadbury chocolate shop - perfect for stocking up ahead of trick or treat night.
MAGICAL MAZE QUEST, NATIONAL FOREST ADVENTURE FARM
Youngsters take an enchanting journey through the farm park’s towering maize maze trying their hand at casting spells, making potions and even broomstick flying! Spooktacular is available from October 22 to 30.
SCAREFEST AT ALTON TOWERS
Alton Towers is celebrating 15 years of Scarefest with three terrifying scare mazes plus a brand-new attraction this Halloween - The Lakeside Cemetery where a ‘friendly funeral director is dying to assist you as you descend into a burial chamber to choose your final resting place.’
You can also venture into The Attic: Terror of the Towers for a chilling experience in the eaves of the Tower ruins, or dare to go to the Darkest Depths aboard The Mutiny ghost ship.
There’s also the Altonville Mine Tours of a recently reopened mine which holds a deep dark secret and is nicknamed the ‘Skin Snatchers’ by local residents.
And family favourite Trick O Treat Town is full of trick or treaters so that younger guests can knock on doors to collect sweet treats and other spooky surprises whilst be on the look out for tricks aplenty.
Running from October 14 to 30, the park will stay open until 9pm for lots of after dark fun.
HALLOWEEN AT WARWICK CASTLE
There are two Halloween experiences at Warwick Castle. The Haunted Castle is full of familyfriendly frights as you join ghosts, ghouls, wizards and witches for lots of spooky tales. This runs from October 22 to 31.
Then there’s the Castle After Dark experience, which is not for the faint-hearted! Organisers promise this will be ‘the ultimate Halloween night for fearless friends as the castle comes to life with haunted spirits and fearful frights like never before’.
The evening castle visit will feature live music, quirky roaming characters, entertainment and street food too.
And, if you’re feeling particularly brave, you could also visit the Castle Dungeon too. The Castle After Dark event runs on October 22 and 23 and then from October 28 to 31.
SPOOKY SPECTACULAR AT WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK
Get ready for hundreds of pumpkins in this year’s Pumpkin Patch at West Midland Safari Park. Watch Patch the scarecrow in a show with a friendly witch and wizard, cheeky dragons and a silly skeleton.
Spooky explorers will need to help locate the missing potion ingredients which have been stolen by some mischievous dragons. If they can find all the items, they will win a special treat in this special scratch card trail! And there are extended opening hours so explorers can discover dinosaurs and rides in the dark plus a spooky VR ride too. Runs from October 22 to 30.
PUMPKIN SMASH BASH AT DRAYTON MANOR
Drayton Manor Resort has revealed new experiences for Halloween. There’s a Pumpkin Smash Bash, open from 10.30am5pm daily, for fun-seekers of all ages to enjoy.
Visitors can also head into the Castle of Spooks - a 15-minute walk-around experience with a range of fang-tastic activities - from scary stories and sing-a-longs to classic trick-or-treating with special Halloween characters.
There’s also a Night at The Manor, for those aged 14 and over, where the Castle of Screams will be open from 5pm to 9pm for an immersive 15-minute walk in the dark, where those who dare to enter will have to brave countless jump-scares from ghoulish inhabitants.
Running from October 22 to 30, there will also be 100+ rides and attractions to enjoy plus Thomas fans can see the Island of Sodor decorated with pumpkins, cobwebs and hay bales and the Polperro Train will be transformed into The Haunted Express for guests to embark on a frightful journey around the resort with a ‘one way ticket, offering no return’.